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12-19-2005, 01:40 PM
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Bozo, Gar, and Ray
For those of you with WGN on your cable system, I would highly recommend this program highlighting some wonderful TV clowns and children's entertainers from Chicago.
Special: Bozo, Gar & Ray: WGN TV Classics 12/24 7-9 pm (Central Time) 12/25 2-4pm (Central Time) A look back at three of WGN's most beloved television series, "Bozo's Circus," "Garfield Goose and Friends" and "Ray Rayner and His Friends." The classic TV trilogy starred Chicago television legends Bob Bell, Frazier Thomas, Ray Rayner, Roy Brown and Ned Locke among others. 1950s holiday favorites "Hardrock, Coco and Joe," "Suzy Snowflake" and "Frosty the Snowman" are also featured. WGN's Dean Richards hosts. For a preview of those classic cartoons: Hardrock, Coco, and Joe: http://www.toontracker.com/realvid/hardrckv.ram Suzy Snowflake: http://www.toontracker.com/realvid/suzy.ram Frosty the Snowman: http://www.toontracker.com/realvid/frosty.ram 
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12-26-2005, 06:45 AM
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It was a great show!!!
Tim,
Thanks for the heads up on this program. I would have been really bummed to have missed it!! I wish it were availible on DVD! Allof the bits that they did were great. If you hear of this being rebroadcast, please let me know. And Thanks, again!!! Scruffy
__________________
"Laugh and the world laughs with you. But If you fart, then you stand alone." joey Bishop
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12-26-2005, 07:12 AM
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Another thought....
I really wish, old episodes were availible for purchase. I think it you be a great way to train junior joeys to see how Bozo interacted with the other clowns. Even the newer episodes with Joey D'Auria. I always felt that he was a great replacement for Bob Bell.Things that could be learned from the tapes..
Ad libbing, Most of the dialogue was off the cuff. They used a script,but it was a guideline. It left much of the delivery up to the performers. One of my favorite lines: "Never were truer words spoken by falser teeth." The Clown Hierarchy. Bozo: Authoritarian whiteface. The thrower of the pie. Oliver O. Oliver, Rusty the Handyman, Pepper,and 'Tunia were Augustes, recievers of the Pie, Never quite up to the speed of the whiteface. Sandy the tramp. The lowest man on the heap, the one who took the pie because to auguste bent over to tie his shoe,... or some such bit of nonesense. Skits: Many classics were performed over the years. It may be one of the few places to see them done. And a bonus, performed by some of the best in the business. Great corny jokes Cooky:" Say, Boze, remember that time we went duck hunting... I was think of going again on saturday. Do you wanna come ?" BOZO: "No! it was terrible, cold, wet, raining...[ Cooky interjects "Yeah"] And all those huntin' dogs did was howl! Nah,forget it." Cooky: "yeah.... Do you think it would have helped if we had thrown the dogs further up in the air?" Why you always NEED a good cheap gorilla suit. Still a great blow off to a skit when nothing else seems right . I just think it would be great if the younger ones could learn from clowns that were really, great and funny clowns.
__________________
"Laugh and the world laughs with you. But If you fart, then you stand alone." joey Bishop
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12-26-2005, 07:51 PM
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no clowns, but...
Someone happened to send me a link to a video version of the "Hardrock, Coco and Joe" audio file that Tim posted: here it is in all its 1950s glory.
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12-27-2005, 03:07 PM
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I just rewatched the program (taped it). A few observations. Sandy the Tramp is a most excellent clown. Possibly the best true clown of the bunch. I had never realized before just how skilled he was.
Everyone forgets that Roy Brown (Cooky) was also the man behind Cuddly Duddly and Garfield Goose. That man was just genius. Some of the shtick he could do behind those characters was even better than what he accomplished as a clown. But it was the same form either way, just translated to different characters. Improv is where it's at. Bob Bell was CLEARLY the definitive Bozo. Joey D'Auria did grow into the character well and carry it on effectively. I can't say here what I really think about Larry Harmon for refusing to allow Bob be inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame in the character. Though I always did believe that he ought to have been seated front and center for the final show and given his "just desserts" as the finale. You haven't lived until you have experienced Wizzo. (In fact you probably weren't even conceived yet. BADUMBUM). Ray Rayner was brilliant and retired WAY too soon. He was effectively the kind of now popularized morning news format before it ever existed. In fact I have to think that Bob Sirott (the innovator of the news format) got it from growing up watching Ray. It's unfortunate that not much of these programs were ever saved. Some of what little remains is (or will be when it reopens) available for viewing at the Museum of Broadcast Communications: http://www.museum.tv The show has sadly ended, but it, ironically, did so on perhaps the best note possible. It was the last remaining Bozo show airring. It ran 40 years. And Roy Brown was part of both the last show taped (live appearance) as well as the special farewell finale in a special bit which he recorded for that broadcast before his death. (Too bad they didn't do that show live, however.) Ray Rayner was also able to appear on that one. As such, the complete cast of classic clowns (save Bob Bell, though his highlights were certainly shown) were part of creating it. Here are the other cartoons: http://www.toontracker.com/realvid/frosty.ram http://www.toontracker.com/realvid/suzy.ram http://www.toontracker.com/realvid/hardrckv.ram
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12-28-2005, 06:34 AM
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Boy Clowning, It's been awhile.... How are you doing?
Welcome back, and thaks for your great insight! I hope there is some fotage around from the old shows BTW, I do remember Whizzo, I fact got started in magic, thanks to Marshall Brodien :mrgreen: I don't remember alot of the old stuff. I remember when bozo wore red, Back then I could only catch it at my grandma's house in Kalamazoo. So, I didin't get to watch alot of it. I was able to start watching it more often in the late eighties, early nineties when they started carrying WGN on our local cable station. Another great TV clown who was on in the eightes was Happy's Place featuring Happy the Hobo. On WFFT TV out of Fort Wayne , Indiana. They too showed Rocky and Bullwinkle... MAN! I miss that cartoon! I really wish there was still a market for that type of Show. Or at least someone with the chutzpah to pull it off.
__________________
"Laugh and the world laughs with you. But If you fart, then you stand alone." joey Bishop
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12-28-2005, 11:37 AM
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We missed "Bozo Gar and Ray"!
My wife was really looking forawrd to it having grown up watching WGN in northern Indiana. My sister tried to Tivo it but the signal from the dish was trashed by the weather. If anyone taped this I would really love to get a copy. Please drop me a line at preavis@wddinc.com if you can help me out. THANKS!
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12-21-2006, 10:16 PM
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It's on again this year:
Quote:
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12-22-2006, 01:10 AM
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Thank you, Tim!
__________________
"Laugh and the world laughs with you. But If you fart, then you stand alone." joey Bishop
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